Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-04-27
The Defendants Accomplish.

1853, Seth Damon, of Actor, institut-
ed an actiop at law against Gabriel
Butterworth, of the same town, for
the recovery Of $4,000, of which he
claimed that said Butterworth had
defrauded him. The circumstances
were these
Butterworth owned and kept the
principal store in Acton, and though
he had never been regarded as an ex-
emplary gentleman, his honor in bust
ness had not been impugned. Those
who had the faculty of looking upon
the undercurrents of human actions
decided that he was man not bound
by honor, but who understood the laws
of self-interest too well to be guilty
of small meannesses in business.
What he was capable of doing on
grand scale was not mooted until the
occurrence of which | am about to
speak.
Seth Damon had removed from Ed
son to Acton in the fall, and had pur-
chased the iron works. Shortly after
concluding to purchase, he had a pay.
ment of $50, 900 to make, and late on
a Saturday afternoon he arrived from
New York with the money-part of
it in bank notes, and part of it in
gold. When he arrived he found that
the parties to whom the money was to
be paid had left town, and would not
return till Monday. Mr.. Butterworth
had the only reliable safety vault in
town, and to Mr.. Butterworth Damon
took the $4,000, asking permission
to lodge it in his vault over the Sab
bath, which permission was readily
and cheerfully granted.
During Sunday night the people of
the village were aroused by the alarm
of fire; and upon starting out found
that the alarm came from Butter
worth's store. but Mr.. Butterworth
had been active. He had discovered
the fire in season, and, with the assist
ance of his boys, had put it out before
much damage had been done. Upon
looking over the premises it was found
that the fire had not only been the
evident work of an incendiary, but
that it had been set in several differ
ent places.
"How fortunate" said the owner,
that / discovered it in season."
But very soon another discovery
was made. The safety vault had been
broken open. and every dollar it had
contained stolen away! Here was
alarm and CONSERVATION. Gabriel
Butterworth seemed fit to 20 crazy.
For myself / care not" he cried.
"A few hundreds were all / had in
there; but my friend had great
sum !"
Immediate search for the robber or
robbers was instituted, and word was
sent far aud near to all sheriff''s and
their deputies, and to the police of
the cities.
Now it had 81 happened that Oh
that very Sunday cvenng-or, | may
say, Sunday night, for it Wis near
midnight, John Watson, had been
returning from my brothers in Dun
stable. had left my hired team at
the stable, and on my way to my
boarding house, ! passed the store of
Mr.. Butterworth. In the back yard |
of the store was horse trough, and,
being thirsty, ] stepped around that
way to get II draught of water. AS
stopped to drink at the spout of the
fountain saw CLEAN Of light
crevice in the shutters of
one of the store windows. Curiosity
impelled me to go and peer through
for wondered who could be in there
at that hour of Sunday night. The
crevice was quite large, made by u
wearing away of the shutters where
they had been caught by the hooks
that held them back when open, and
through it | looked into the store. i
looked upon the wall within which
The safety vault was built, and / saw
Gabriel Butterworth ut work therein.
saw him put large packages into his
breast pocket, and ! saw him bring
,ut two or three small canvas bags,
ike shot bags, and set them upon the
floor near the door that opened to-
wards the dwelling. AS saw him
approaching this outer door second
lime / thought he might come out, and
went away. 1t was an hour after
wards that | heard the alarm of fire.
And it was not until the following
morning that ] heard of the robbery
# the safe.
was placed in critical position;
'ut ] had duty to perform. went
o Mr.. Damon, and told him of what
had seen and also gave him liber-
y to call upon me for testimony in
public when he should need it, Until
should be so called upon / was to
,old my silence.
While the officers we're hunting